Gulf War syndrome sufferers in the North East had hope restored today as it was announced an independent inquiry will open into the illness.

Hundreds of troops from the region reportedly suffered ill-health after being given inoculations against chemical warfare while serving in the first Gulf War.

A leading North East scientist has welcomed the news, but says all the evidence needs to be given to the hearing and there should not be a repeat of the Hutton Inquiry. Sunderland University professor of medical chemistry and chief scientific adviser to the Gulf Veterans' Association Malcolm Hooper said: "I welcome it, but it's long overdue.

"The Government has tried to resist this investigation for a decade now, but I welcome it finally being given the go-ahead.

"The thing that concerns me is that all the information will not be made available and important studies in the US will not be taken into account.

"It's vital that a full and comprehensive inquiry is given for the people suffering debilitating effects."

Now former Lord Justice of Appeal, Lord Lloyd of Berwick, will head the inquiry into Gulf War illnesses and question veterans, relatives and medical experts.

Lord Lloyd said: "My intention is to open the inquiry as soon as possible and to hold hearings in public."

A spokesman from the Royal British Legion said he was "delighted" with today's announcement and promised to monitor the inquiry closely.

The RBL first called for a public inquiry into the illnesses in 1997.

The spokesman said: "It's a matter of great disappointment that an inquiry couldn't have happened sooner so that any issues identified could be used to improve the procedures for the preparation of troops for current operations."

National Gulf Veterans' & Families' Association chairman Shaun Rusling said: "My first concern would be that the scope of the inquiry would be narrow and we would get a whitewash. It has to be fully open and complete."